Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert reveals she's in a same-sex relationship
Syafique Shuib
September 8, 2016 18:34 MYT
September 8, 2016 18:34 MYT
The news came just two months after Elizabeth Gilbert announced her separation from her husband, who is mentioned in two of her memoirs.
JUST months after announcing her separation from her husband, 'Eat Pray Love' author Elizabeth Gilbert today revealed that she is in a same-sex relationship.
In a lengthy statement posted on her Facebook page, Gilbert said she is now dating her best friend Rayyas Elias, who was recently diagnosed with liver cancer.
“Rayya and I are together. I love her, and she loves me. I'm walking through this cancer journey with her, not only as her friend, but as her partner.
“I am exactly where I need to be — the only place I can be,” she said.
Gilbert also said that the reason why she is speaking about it now is that she wanted to be comfortable being seen with Rayya as a couple, instead of pretending that Rayya and her are 'just friends'.
“For reasons of my own integrity and sanity, I need to be able to walk into any room in the world with Rayya on my arm, feeling relaxed enough to stand comfortably in simple openness about who we actually are to each other,” she said.
The news received mixed reactions from her fans. Some expressed their support to Gilbert.
Some questioned her motive for revealing the news at this time, speculating that she might launch a new book soon.
"Seeking publicity for her next book perhaps? No different from those ghastly Kardashians who also look for publicity by revealing their private lives,” said Kerry Harvey on Facebook.
Katie Bethke asked “Maybe another round of Eat Pray Love is coming up in a new book?”
Gilbert started out as a novelist but rose to fame with her memoir ‘Eat Pray Love’ based on her travels to Italy, India and Indonesia.
It was then made into a movie starring Julia Roberts.
She also married Jose Nunes, referred to as Felipe in her memoir - whom she met in Bali, Indonesia.
Gilbert also revealed details about her marriage in the follow-up memoir 'Committed'.
She announced her separation from her husband in July this year.